Titelaufnahme

Utilizing twopanel datasets covering theperiods 2013-2014 and 2018-2019, the study examines whether social rejection, family acceptance,andeconomic conditionsbear an association with self-rated physical and mental health ofsexual minorities. Social rejection bearsa negative association with physical and mental health.Family acceptance shares a positiveassociation withphysical and mental health. Periods characterized byworse economicconditions (2013-2014 versus 2018-2019) correlate with adecline in sexual minorities' physical and mental health. It is found that women, trans people, people withouthigher education degrees, unemployed people, and relativelypoor people, experienceworse physical andmental health than the correspondingreference categories. The study indicates that sexual minorities who experienced societal rejections, such as unfair treatment in educational, workplace environments, and/or services (public/health) prompted deteriorated physical and mental health. Sexual minorities who experienced acceptance from their families over their sexual orientation status, experienced better physical and mental health. Moreover, during periods of increased aggregate unemployment, the physical and mental health status of sexual minorities was deteriorated. Antidiscrimination policies help reduce homophobic incidents and positively impact sexual/gender identity minorities' progression, self-esteem, income, and well-being. Public health services should ensure that policies are inclusive of the physical and mental health needs of sexual/gender identity minority groups. Addressing financial hardships for minority population groups should form part of the policymakers' agenda. This is among the first international studies to examine whether, during a period of economic recession, sexual minorities experience deteriorated physical and mental health.